Intro: National Chili Day 2014 falls on Feb. 27, 2014. Every fourth Thursday in Feb. is the day that's devoted to celebrating this dish. It's also a day for learning how to make homemade chil and to the history of this food that's sometimes made with beans, although it doesn't have to be. In honor of this momentous day, read on to get some of the best recipes to warm you for the remainder of Feb.

is an American dish with Mexican roots, Mexicans are said to indignantly deny any association with the dish...

Most historians agree that the earliest written description of chili came from J.C. Clopper, who lived near Houston. While his description never mentions the word chili this is what he wrote of his visit to San Antonio in 1828: 'When they [poor families of San Antonio] have to lay for their meat in the market, a very little is made to suffice for the family; it is generally cut into a kind of hash with nearly as many peppers as there are pieces of meat--this is all stewed together.'

How to Make Homemade Chili ~ Some Best Practices Tips

Serious Eats recommends that you start off with some real, dried chiles. Your easy chili recipes can be hot, rich and fruity or smokey, depending on the kinds of chiles you buy.

Bon Appetit asked readers what their favorite secret ingredients were for making the best chili recipes that they knew how to make. Among the answers were Mexican chocolate (my favorite option), nutmeg, Guinness beer, and even pickle juice. The point is that when you're making recipes for chili, almost anything goes.

The Manly Housekeeper says that salsa works well for flavoring your chili, but for National Chili Day 2014, you may want to just go for the big stuff and put in lots of jalapeños, garlic, diced tomatoes and onions.

Making Chili ~ Best Recipes to Try for National Chili Day

In my opinion, the best way to learn how to cook chili is to make chili. With that in mind, below you'll find some of my favorite homemade chili recipes.

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Buffy Naillon came by her love affair with food culture honestly. She grew up working in her aunt's diner and later graduated to slinging plates at various Boise eateries and coffee houses for the better part of 10 years. In this column she'll share recipes and food memories, talk about the role food plays in culture and give the dish on the best places to eat in Boise.